Startup Growth
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Eric Baker's long, winding road to taking StubHub public
TechCrunch· 2025-09-17 23:33
Core Insights - StubHub went public with an IPO price of $23.50, closing 6% below that price, which values the company at over $7 billion, highlighting the perseverance of its co-founder Eric Baker [1] Company History - StubHub was co-founded by Eric Baker and Jeff Fluhr in 2000 during their time at Stanford, shortly after the dotcom bubble burst [1] - Baker was pushed out of the company in 2004 due to differences in vision with Fluhr [2] - In 2005, Baker founded Viagogo in London, aiming to merge it with StubHub in the future [3] - In 2019, eBay spun off StubHub, and Baker acquired it for $4.05 billion with backing from investors [3] Impact of COVID-19 - The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted StubHub, leading to a collapse in revenue due to the cancellation of live events [4][6] - The company managed to survive the pandemic and saw a significant rebound in revenue as live events resumed [6] Recent Performance - StubHub's revenue grew by 10% to $397.6 million in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, driven by high-demand events like Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and the Super Bowl [6] - Baker reflected on the company's journey and challenges faced, including the impact of COVID-19 [7] Ownership Structure - Eric Baker owns 4.7% of StubHub, while investors Madrone Partners, WestCap, and Bessemer Venture Partners hold 24.5%, 12.3%, and 8.8% respectively [7]
Tesla could have avoided that $242.5M Autopilot verdict, filings show
TechCrunch· 2025-08-25 23:32
Core Points - A jury awarded a $242.5 million verdict against Tesla for its role in a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system, which occurred in 2019 [2][3] - Tesla had the opportunity to settle the case for $60 million but chose to reject the offer [1] - The jury found the driver responsible for two-thirds of the blame, while Tesla was assigned one-third [3] Legal Proceedings - The lawsuit was filed in 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida [5] - The crash involved a Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged, which failed to brake in time, resulting in a collision that killed one person and severely injured another [2][3] - Tesla plans to appeal the verdict, citing "substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial" [4]
Rocket Lab eyes big defense opportunities with new acquisition
TechCrunch· 2025-08-07 21:23
Core Insights - Rocket Lab is positioning itself as more than just a launch company, emphasizing its space systems business and acquisition strategy to enhance competitiveness in government contracts [1][3]. Financial Performance - In the second quarter, Rocket Lab reported total revenues of $144.5 million, marking a 36% increase year-over-year, with space systems contributing $97.9 million [2]. - The company experienced a net loss of $66.4 million during the same period [2]. Acquisition Strategy - Rocket Lab is nearing the completion of its acquisition of Geost for $275 million, which will lead to the establishment of a new business unit focused on Optical Systems [3]. - This acquisition aims to enhance capabilities in manufacturing electro-optical and infrared sensors, which are critical for defense applications [4]. Defense Contracts - The company has secured significant defense contracts, including a $515 million deal for an 18-satellite build to support missile tracking initiatives [5]. - Rocket Lab is actively progressing on production for these satellites, confirming they meet Department of Defense (DOD) mission requirements [5]. Future Developments - The company is on track for the first launch of its larger Neutron rocket, with the launch complex in Virginia expected to be completed in Q3 2023 [6]. - Rocket Lab aims to have the Neutron rocket ready for launch by the end of 2025, with ongoing tests of its new rocket engine, Archimedes [8]. - The company ended the quarter with $564 million in cash and cash equivalents, projecting revenues of $145 to $155 million for the next quarter [8].